Grizzlies play from behind early to improve to 4-0

» Turning Point: It didn’t come until the Grizzlies scored their last touchdown via a 4-yard pass from RJ Fulton to Blake Karlin with 5 minutes, 22 seconds left to play.

The touchdown put the Grizzlies ahead by 10 (17-7).

» Best Individual Performance: Northridge senior wideout Michael Graff quietly hauled in six receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown, averaging 16.3 yards-per-catch. Four of Graff’s catches were for first downs.

» What It Means: Northridge continues to build on its best start in five seasons heading into its final nonconference game at 7 next Saturday night against Erie at District 6 Stadium. The Tigers are also 4-0 and compete in the Class 3A Northern League.

» By the Numbers

2005

The last time a Northridge football team was 4-0 after the first month of the season. The Grizzlies ran off 10 straight victories that season, finishing at 10-1.

The Grizzlies are 38-50 overall, midway through their ninth season of fielding a varsity squad.

1

Centaurus had trouble moving the chains in the second half, evidenced by just one first down.

64

The number of yards the Warriors mustered in the second half, feeling the wrath of Northridge’s defense.

35

The number of passes thrown by Northridege quarterback RJ Fulton, who has 933 passing yards on the season with eight touchdowns. Fulton is averaging 23 pass attempts per game, and throwing for an average of 311 yards each week.

12

Northridge’s total first downs via the pass.

0

Centaurus never crossed midfield in the second half.

11

The combined number of punts by the two teams.

Samuel G. Mustari

It may not have come with a bow on top or all the glitter, but when necessary, the Northridge football team was as good as gold Saturday afternoon.

Overcoming a sluggish first half, the Grizzlies remain unbeaten at 4-0 after their 17-7 Class 3A nonconference victory over Centaurus at District 6 Stadium.

“Hey, they came out and hit us right in the mouth,” said Northridge senior quarterback RJ Fulton. “They came in here 0-3, but they figured they could beat us. They were really physical in the first half.”

The Grizzlies flexed their muscles in the second half, limiting the Warriors (0-4) to just one first down in the second half, and even overcoming a dropped fourth-down pass in the end zone and a sure pick-six by Bryant Frank — both in the fourth quarter when the Grizzlies were in position to send the homecoming crowd toward the exits.

“Right in my hands, both of ‘em,” a relieved Frank said. “Maybe it was the pink gloves I was wearing.”

Whatever it was, Frank refocused and returned a Centaurus punt 27 yards to the Warriors 19. Five plays later, Fulton hit Blake Karlin with a bullet from the 4 for a touchdown with just 5 minutes, 22 seconds left in the game.

“I was really thankful for Blake’s touchdown,” Frank added.

Karlin explained how the Grizzlies continued to play with a strong sense of urgency despite their mistakes.

“Before that play, RJ came in the huddle and reminded all of us that it was a big play and we needed to punch it in,” said Karlin, who hauled in six catches for 38 yards. “Today, our team showed we know how to deal with (mistakes) and we still are coming from behind to win.”

All four of the Grizzlies’ victories have been in a catch-up fashion, but Saturday’s featured their swarming, dominating defense in the second half.

“We were more aggressive in the second half,” Northridge linebacker Tony Dennis-Lopez said. “I know that I was figuring out their schemes better than in the first half. I think maybe we came out a little too psyched up. I was.”

The Grizzlies had to play from behind in the first half, the victims of their own mistakes and inability to pick up a key third down before settling for a 30-yard field goal by Seth Czapenski with 1:50 left in the first quarter to pull within 7-3.

“Everything was perfect on that kick,” Czapenski said. “The snap, the hold, the kick … everything was just right.”

Czapenski lined up for another field goal in the second half, this one from 21 yards out, but after a timeout, the Grizzlies opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Centaurus 4, which resulted in Frank’s dropped pass.

“When Blake (Karlin) got his touchdown catch, I felt a lot better,” Frank said. “On the return to set that up, I just wanted to get the ball and go as hard as I could into somebody.”On Centaurus’ ensuing possession, the Warriors picked up their lone second-half first down but stalled at their own 43 with just 3:05 left to play.

The Warriors opened strong with an 11-play, 69-yard drive on their first possession, scoring on a 1-yard run by JJ Scott.

Northridge’s only answer was Czapenski’s field goal, but the Grizzlies had plenty of yards and first downs to show for their effort; just no points.

One second-quarter Northridge’s drive stalled at the Centaurus 27 when RJ Fulton was sacked for an 11-yard loss on fourth down.

Fulton was intercepted by Centaurus’ Tanner Martinelli on the Grizzlies’ final possession of the half, and consecutive offside penalties on the Grizzlies helped the Warriors to the 15, but the Grizzlies stuffed Scott on fourth-and-2.

The Grizzlies took the lead for good on their first possession of the second half as Fulton directed a five-play, 71-yard drive that resulted in an 8-yard touchdown pass to Michael Graff.